Successful bending requires that the appropriate amount of heat be applied uniformly to the required length of pipe to be bent. This presents the greatest challenge for field bending, as the heating method used must provide the necessary amount of heat over the required length of pipe in a reasonable amount of time. Several common pipe heating methods used in the field involve the use of hot air ovens, electric box heaters, electric pipe heating blankets, and flameless hot gas torches. Temperatures necessary to heat the pipe are dependent on pipe size and the severity of the desired bend radius. In general, PVC pipe should be heated from 225°F to 275°F for the minimum amount of time necessary to achieve uniform softening. Care should be taken to avoid exposing the pipe to bending temperatures for an excessive length of time, as irreparable distortion and deformation will occur. Localized overheating must be avoided. Successful minor bends (< 30°) can be achieved with minimum distortion in the lower temperature range (225°F) without internal support. Sharp bends (> 30°) require higher temperatures (250°-275°F) as well as internal support to prevent wall distortion/collapse.
Common methods used to provide internal support to the pipe during the bending process include using a filling medium such as sand or perlite (cat litter), inserting a coiled spring into the pipe, or in some cases providing internal pressure. Filling the pipe with fine grain sand or perlite prior to heating furnishes the internal support necessary to prevent collapse, while at the same time provides an excellent medium for uniform heat distribution during the heating process.
The filling medium used should be packed tightly into the pipe to achieve the desired bend radius with minimum distortion.
During this process, the pipe ends are capped or plugged and the filling medium is compacted as much as possible to remove any air pockets prior to heating. Once the bend is formed and cooled, the sand is emptied from the pipe and any remaining particles can be easily removed by rinsing with water.
To provide fabrication consistency in the field, standard pipe bending forms which provide the required radius and are sized (grooved) for the proper diameter can be used to bend plastic pipe. Plywood jigs constructed on site have also been used successfully in many applications. The minimum radius at bend should not be less than five times the pipe outside diameter to prevent flattening. Due to the recovery characteristics of the material, the pipe should be bent slightly beyond the desired radius and allowed to spring back to the required angle once uniformly heated at the correct temperature. When the bend is obtained, the pipe should be held in place and cooled quickly using a wet sponge or other application of water. It should be noted that most bending procedures will induce stress into the pipe wall which can be retained in the material after the bend radius is formed. The amount of stress induced is dependent on the severity of the bend, the diameter and wall thickness of the pipe bent, and the bending method used. This residual stress will be added to the normal stresses created by internal pressure, installation procedures, and the effects of temperature. Therefore, pipe bending should be limited to applications for use at ambient temperatures or lower where maximum operating pressures are not utilized. It should also be noted that during the bending process of clear PVC pipe, the material will become cloudy during the heating process but will regain clarity when cooled, provided excessive bending stresses are not retained. The use of a filling medium during the bending process can also cause slight pitting and other interior surface blemishes depending on the method used.
Attempting to form bends in rigid thermoplastic piping at temperatures too low (below 200°F) can induce excessive stress into the pipe, thereby jeopardizing its physical performance.
CAUTION AREAS
Alsco Industrial Products, Inc. does not recommend the use of this product or other rigid PVC/CPVC piping products for the transportation or storage of compressed air or gases, nor the testing of these systems using compressed air or gases. Although our clear pvc maintains its physical properties when exposed to many substances, exposure to certain chemicals can affect the clarity of the product over time. Certain nitrogen-containing organics, bleaches, oxidative agents and acids may result in discoloration. Testing under actual use conditions is recommended. Exposure to sunlight (U.V.R.) will also affect clarity. This can be addressed in sight glass applications exposed outdoors by simply providing an opaque cover attached to the pipe exterior such as a rubber flap or sleeve. These facts should be considered if optimum clarity is required for the system by testing under actual use conditions at the initial design phase of the project. Standard threading or grooving can be conducted with ourSchedule 80 Clear pipe. Threading or grooving of ourSchedule 40 Clear pipeis not recommended due to insufficient wall thickness. Use specialty clear transition fittings for threaded assemblies or standard PVC transition fittings where applicable.
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